Hi all,
My daughter (26yo) is a first time solo traveler, and is looking for a hostel in Paris for 5 days in September. Ideally, it should:
Does anyone have any hostels they can recommend, hopefully based on personal experience?
Thanks!
I stayed in this one several times the biggest in France safe area authentic in the 20th arrondisement.
https://www.hihostels.com/hostels/auberge-de-jeunesse-hi-paris-le-d-artagnan
It is away from the center but the metro will get you there in 20 minutes
My niece always stays here. http://caulaincourt.com/
good location in Montmarte, easy bus and metro connections.
Better for your 26 yr old daughter to ask her peers on Hostelworld.com than to ask here where most of us are 50+, and not a lot of us stay in hostels.
This comment does not accurately reflect what is currently happening. People 50+ seniors on a budget stay in hostels also not everyone is into the Rick Steves brand. I am 49 now and stay in hostels. I know because I stayed in a hostel last May and there was a woman older than I there. Hostels know there is a segment of people over 50 people on fixed incomes that love to travel and can not afford the prices at some bougie hotel. Hostels are more all ages nowadays as they see more revenue from this approach to pay the bills in high rent tourist cities
He stayed in one in Paris by Gare du Nord which was awful. He ended up there only b/c he didn’t know he was going to Paris until that day, and in August (2017) it was the only hostel w a bed. He doesn’t remember the name, but there may only be one in that area and hopefully your daughter can avoid it.
yeah you have to plan ahead goin to a mega popular destination like Paris; and if you can not afford where you want to stay because you did not then you end up like the victim in the above situation; and there are several hostels in the Gare du Nord area.
Marty,
I'm in my late 60's and still stay in Hostels on occasion. I'd suggest having a look at HI Hostels as I've always found their properties clean and well run. Having a membership will provide preferred booking and slightly cheaper rates. Here's their website - https://www.hihostels.com/ . HI has several properties in Paris, and you can check the details here - https://www.hihostels.com/destinations/0048/hostels .
If she hasn't stayed in Hostels before, she'll need to pack a towel, soap, flip-flops and a good quality Padlock for the lockers (not too large though). Don't use the cheap TSA locks as they're easily compromised.
I've stayed at three hostels in Paris. My favorite, by far, is the MIJE (pronounced meej) in the Marais area. It's a short walk to the main sights and a very nice old building. The downside is it's often sold out, so you may or may not be able to get reservations.
I've also stayed at one near Republic Square called 8 Blvd. Jules Ferry (the address). It's a decent place but nothing particularly special. I've stayed there three times. It's my backup when I can't get something at the MIJE.
The other one I've stayed at is in Montmartre area. I've only stayed once. I feel isolated when I'm that far from the center. I would recommend something as central as possible. The happiest place in Paris is the center. The further you stay from the center, the less happy you will be.
Thank you everyone! I appreciate all your responses!
There are two hotel/hostels on Rue Rodier. I stay in a studio close by, and the hotels/hostels see really busy and are almost always full. So, I assume they are ok. I have not stayed there myself. The studio I book is a 10 minute walk from the hostels and very safe. It is close to the Anvers metro and park. Contact information: Nadie Giblin
Studio 30 sqm Paris 9e near Montmartre
E-mail : [email protected]
Website : http://locationparis9.canalblog.com
There are two hostels in the Gare du Nord area. Since I always stay in a two star hotel in Nord, I've checked out both of these hostels for possible future stays as I am going to be staying in Nord anyway.
One is St Christophers located between Gare de l'Est and Nord. That is a big hostel. From seeing the guests each time passing there and the outside, I didn't find it to be awful. On hostels these things most of the time don't bother me. This hostel is a private independent one, ie not part of HI. I don't recommend this one if you don't like big hostels. To me it makes no difference.
The other hostel is on the other side of Rue de Dunkerque, Vintage Hostel, located at the boundary of the 9th and 10th districts, en route to Montmarte. Between the two Vintage is better, much nicer location, refurbished, a bit smaller. ca 15 mins walk once exiting Nord by turning right. Vintage is also a private independent hostel I recommend this hostel.
I'm over 40 years your daughter's senior. I stayed exclusively in hostel dorm rooms at her age and earlier and still do not preclude this option for the occasional stay...just all depends on the hostel and its location.
